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WJTN Headlines for Tuesday, 10/17/2017

It wasn't on the schedule of entities to be reviewed last night for the 2018 budget proposal but, supporters of the Prendergast Library in Jamestown urged City Council members to restore funding to the outside agency. 
 
Several people spoke at the council's regular work session about the 50-percent cut to the library in Mayor Sam Teresi's $35.7-million budget.  Lucille Wilson worked there part-time several years ago, and heard compliments about how great a resource it is. Wilson adds that, even in the age of the Internet, it gets a lot of use.
 
One person said that the library was his source for on-line resources, and the Internet, when he was young.  Michael Smoker says the library was a "great place" to go to as a kid. 
 
However, he says while the library can get grants for fixed costs and repairs, it doen't help with day-to-day costs.  At the same time, they have do deal with several state mandates to operate.  The library was cut by 70% in this year's budget, to $100,000.  If approved as is in the mayor's budget, it will receive $50,000 in 2018.
 
 
Jamestown Mayor Sam Teresi is urging city lawmakers to say "no!" to any new spending in the 2018 budget proposal until they deal with it's $947,000 deficit. 
 
Teresi made his comments during his report at the end of last night's open session.  He says providing more funding for the library or to help buy badly needed equipment for the Department of Public Work may be a great idea. 
 
However, Teresi says there are other areas that have to be addressed first, including paying the city's bond holders on time to get the city's debt is paid off.  He adds they also have to make a full payment to the state's retirement system for it's police and fire department, as well as general employees.
 
 
A Jamestown teenager was arrested after taking his roommate's car early last Saturday morning.
 
Officers responded to a Lakeview Avenue residence for a report of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. It was found that the victim's roommate, 19-year old Nicholas McChesney had taken the vehicle without permission. Officers were able to locate McChesney and he was taken to city jail pending arraignment. 
 
 
We'll see cooler temperatures for another day or so after a strong cold front passed through the area late Sunday and, triggered some severe weather as it crossed the western New York area Sunday afternoon. 
 
Forecaster Bob Hamilton with the National Weather Service in Buffalo says the front brought gusty winds that caused a lot of damage in the region.
 
There was a report of a 56 MPH gust near Dunkirk.  Hamilton says there were nearly 100 reports of downed trees and power lines, with some of the downed trees falling on homes in the region. 
 
Many of those reports were from Chautauqua and Cattaraugus counties.  There is a Frost Advisory locally until 8 this Tuesday morning.
 
 
There is strong support across the 23rd Congressional District for two measures introduced by the county's member of Congress to would improve access and financial support for hospice and palliative services. 
 
Local Representative Tom Reed was on hand at Chautauqua Hospice and Palliative Care in Lakewood Mondaymorning to get the local backing for The Patient Choice and Quality Care Act and, the Rural Access to Hospice Act. 
 
Chautauqua Hospice Director Shawna Anderson says the Patient Choice Act will support three areas:  Workforce training, education and awareness, and enhance research.
 
Anderson adds that the Rural Access measure will help assure a person in their care can keep their primary care doctor.  Unless your primary care doctor has the proper approvals, she says they can't be reimbursed for their services.  In addition, the Corning Republican says both pieces of legislation will help doctors, and hospice organizations get the federal reimbursements they should be. 
 
Right now, Anderson says they have to go after grants, and use fund-raisers to support their "end of life" hospice and palliative services for people with longer-term, terminal illnesses. 
 
 
Chautauqua County's top-elected official says he has a plan to keep the Dunkirk Airport operating until a new Fixed Based Operator can be found. 
 
County Executive Vince Horrigan says the current operator, Lou Nalbone, gave the County 60-days notice in September that he would not continue operations at the airport on Middle Road in the town of Sheridan at the end of October. 
 
Horrigan was slated to make his full presentation at the County Legislature's Public Facilities Committee meeting last night.
 
Nalbone will continue to provide services at the Chautauqua County Airport in Jamestown.  Horrigan says it's important to keep the Dunkirk Airport open, especially for corporate aviation.  He says that will include hangering services, and re-fueling of planes. 
 
Nalbone has given notice that he will end services as the FBO on October 31.  He will continue to provide services at the Chautauqua County Airport in Jamestown.  
 
 
Chautauqua County Executive Vince Horrigan will be traveling to Albany today to take part in a panel discussion on Shared Services. 
 
Horrigan made his comments yesterday morning, adding that it will allow him to share what's being done locally to share services.
 
Besides filing a Shared Services Plan that's required by the State, Horrigan is awaiting word on the winner of a $20-million Municipal Consolidation and Government Efficiency Competition. 
 
Chautauqua County is one of six local governments competing for the major funding.  Horrigan expects an announcement in early November.